Ophthalmic apparatus with corrective meridians having extended tolerance band

ABSTRACT

The embodiments disclosed herein include improved toric lenses and other ophthalmic apparatuses (including, for example, contact lens, intraocular lenses (IOLs), and the like) that includes one or more refractive angularly-varying phase members, each varying depths of focus of the apparatus so as to provide an extended tolerance to misalignments of the apparatus. Each refractive angularly-varying phase member has a center at a first meridian (e.g., the intended correction meridian) that directs light to a first point of focus (e.g., at the retina of the eye). At angular positions nearby to the first meridian, the refractive angularly-varying phase member directs light to points of focus of varying depths and nearby to the first point of focus such that rotational offsets of the multi-zonal lens body from the center of the first meridian directs light from the nearby points of focus to the first point of focus.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/467,550, filed Mar. 23, 2017, which claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 62/312,321, filed Mar. 23, 2016, and U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 62/312,338, filed Mar. 23, 2016, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application is directed to lenses for correcting astigmatism, including providing increased tolerance for lens placement during implantation.

BACKGROUND

Ophthalmic lenses, such as spectacles, contact lenses and intraocular lenses, may be configured to provide both spherical and cylinder power. The cylinder power of a lens is used to correct the rotational asymmetric aberration of astigmatism of the cornea or eye, since astigmatism cannot be corrected by adjusting the spherical power of the lens alone. Lenses that are configured to correct astigmatism are commonly referred to as toric lenses. As used herein, a toric lens is characterized by a base spherical power (which may be positive, negative, or zero) and a cylinder power that is added to the base spherical power of the lens for correcting astigmatism of the eye.

Toric lenses typically have at least one surface that can be described by an asymmetric toric shape having two different curvature values in two orthogonal axes, wherein the tonic lens is characterized by a “low power meridian” with a constant power equal to the base spherical power and an orthogonal “high power meridian” with a constant power equal to the base spherical power plus the cylinder power of the lens. Intraocular lenses, which are used to replace or supplement the natural lens of an eye, may also be configured to have a cylinder power for reducing or correcting astigmatism of the cornea or eye.

Existing toric lenses are designed to correct astigmatic effects by providing maximum cylindrical power that precisely matches the cylinder axis. Haptics are used to anchor an intraocular lens to maintain the lenses at a desired orientation once implanted in the eye. However, existing toric lenses themselves are not designed to account for misalignment of the lens that may occur during the surgical implantation of the lens in the eye or to account for unintended post-surgical movement of the lens in the eye.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to have intraocular lenses that are tolerant to misalignments.

SUMMARY

The embodiments disclosed herein include improved toric lenses and other ophthalmic apparatuses (including, for example, contact lens, intraocular lenses (IOLs), and the like) and associated method for their design and use. In an embodiment, an ophthalmic apparatus (e.g., a toric lens) includes one or more angularly-varying phase members comprising a diffractive or refractive structure, each varying the depths of focus of the apparatus so as to provide an extended tolerance to misalignment of the apparatus when implanted in an eye. That is, the ophthalmic apparatus establishes a band of operational meridian over the intended correction meridian.

In some embodiments, the ophthalmic apparatus includes a multi-zonal lens body having a plurality of optical zones, where the multi-zonal lens body forms the angularly-varying phase member. Each angularly-varying phase member has a center at a first meridian (e.g., the intended correction meridian) that directs light to a first point of focus (e.g., at the retina of the eye). At angular positions nearby to the first meridian, the angularly-varying phase member directs light to points of focus of varying depths and nearby to the first point of focus such that rotational offsets of the multi-zonal lens body from the center of the first meridian directs light from the nearby points of focus to the first point of focus. In some embodiments, the angularly-varying phase member includes a combination of angularly and zonally refractive (or diffractive) phase structure. This structure, in some embodiments, has a height profile (in relation to the face of the lens) that gradually varies along the angular position (i.e., at nearby meridian of the first meridian up) to provide off-axis operation up to a pre-defined angular position (e.g., about ±5° or more from the first meridian). In some embodiments, the height profile T1(r, θ) for the angularly-varying phase member at each meridian θ is defined as T1(r, θ)=t₁(r)·|COS²(θ)|+t₂(r)·|SIN²(θ)|, where t₁(r) and t₂(r) are step heights that matches an optical path difference (OPD) from −2λ to 2λ, where λ is the design wavelength at a zonal radius r. Put another way, each step heights t₁(r) and t₂(r) corresponds to a respective maximum and a minimum height (i.e., the peak and trough) of the angularly-varying phase member. In some embodiments, the angularly and zonally refractive phase structure (or angularly and zonally diffractive phase structure) varies along each meridian between the first meridian (which has the step height t₁(r)) and meridian that are, in some embodiments, about 45 degrees and about −45 degrees to the first meridian. It is contemplated that the angularly-varying phase member may be purely refractive or a hybrid of diffractive and refractive. It is also contemplated that angularly-varying phase members may comprise of different materials such as a stacking lens, where each layer is comprised of a different material. It is further contemplated that the angularly-varying phase members may be comprised of a material or materials that have a variation in refractive index, a gradient index, or a programmed index, for example liquid crystal which creates the refractive change.

In some embodiments, the angularly-varying phase member establishes the band of operational meridian across a range selected from the group consisting of about ±4 degrees, about ±5 degrees, about ±6 degrees, about ±7 degrees, about ±8 degrees, about ±9 degrees, about ±10 degrees, about ±11 degrees, about ±12 degrees, about ±13, degrees, about ±14 degrees, and about ±15 degrees.

In some embodiments, the multi-zonal lens body forms a second angularly-varying phase member at a second meridian that is orthogonal to the first meridian. The second angularly-varying phase member, in some embodiments, varies along each meridian nearby to the center of the second meridian i) between the second meridian and meridians that are, in some embodiments, about 45 degrees and about −45 degrees to the second meridian. In some embodiments, the first and second angularly-varying phase members form a butterfly pattern.

The first angularly-varying phase member and the second angularly-varying phase member, in some embodiments, form an angularly varying efficiency bifocal optics.

In some embodiments, the multi-zonal lens body includes at least three optical zones that forms an angularly varying efficiency trifocal optics, e.g., a diffractive trifocal optics or a refractive trifocal optics. In some embodiments, the multi-zonal lens body forms an angularly varying efficiency quadric optics e.g., a diffractive quadric optics or a refractive quadric optics. In some embodiments, the multi-zonal lens body forms an angularly varying efficiency multi-focal optic e.g., a diffractive multi-focal optic or a refractive multi-focal optic.

In some embodiments, the angularly-varying phase member at the first meridian comprises a monofocal lens. In some embodiments, the second angularly-varying phase member at the second meridian comprises a second monofocal lens. In some embodiments, each of the meridians located at about 45 degrees and about −45 degrees to the first meridian comprises a bifocal lens, e.g., a diffractive bifocal optics or a refractive bifocal optics.

In some embodiments, the angularly-varying phase structure of the multi-zonal lens body includes a first angularly-varying phase structure (e.g., formed by a first diffractive or refractive structure) at a first meridian (e.g., the 0-degree meridian), a second angularly-varying phase structure at a second meridian (e.g., the 45-degree meridian) (e.g., formed by second a diffractive or refractive structure), and a third angularly-varying phase structure at a third meridian (e.g., −45-degree meridian) (e.g., formed by a third diffractive or refractive structure), wherein the first angularly-varying phase structure has a first point of focus and each of the second angularly-varying phase structure and the third angularly-varying phase structure has a respective point of focus nearby to the first point of focus, and wherein the second angularly-varying phase structure has a light transmission or foci efficiency (e.g., about 50%) different from that of the first angularly-varying phase structure. In some embodiments, the second angularly-varying phase structure has a second light transmission or foci efficiency.

In some embodiments, the ophthalmic apparatus includes a plurality of alignment markings, including a first set of alignment markings and a second set of alignment markings. The first set of alignment markings corresponds to the center of the first meridian, and the second set of alignment markings corresponds to the band of operational meridian.

In another aspect, a rotationally-tolerant ophthalmic apparatus (e.g., toric intraocular lens) having an established band of operation meridians (e.g., at least about ±4 degrees or more) for placement over an intended astigmatism meridian is disclosed. The ophthalmic apparatus includes a multi-zonal lens body having a plurality of optical zones, where the multi-zonal lens body forms the angularly-varying phase member. The angularly-varying phase member has a center at an astigmatism correction meridian that directs light to a first point of focus (e.g., on the retina). At angular positions nearby to the astigmatism correction meridian, the portion of the angularly-varying phase member at such angular positions directs light to points of focus of varying depths and nearby to the first point of focus such that rotational offsets of the multi-zonal lens body from the center of the astigmatism correction meridian directs light from the nearby points of focus to the first point of focus.

In another aspect, a rotationally-tolerant ophthalmic apparatus for correcting astigmatism is disclosed. The ophthalmic apparatus includes an astigmatism correcting meridian that corresponds to a peak cylinder power associated with a correction of an astigmatism. The rotationally-tolerant ophthalmic apparatus may include a plurality of exterior alignment markings, including a first set of alignment markings and a second set of alignment markings. The first set of alignment markings corresponds to the astigmatism correcting meridian, and the second set of alignment markings corresponds to an operation band of the rotationally-tolerant ophthalmic apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention may be better understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Such embodiments, which are for illustrative purposes only, depict novel and non-obvious aspects of the invention. The drawings include the following figures:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams of an exemplary ophthalmic apparatus (e.g., an intraocular toric lens) that includes angularly-varying phase members (reflective, diffractive, or both) that each provides an extended rotational tolerance of the apparatus in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F, each illustrates a plurality of exemplary height profiles of the anterior or posterior face of the ophthalmic apparatus of FIGS. 1A-1B in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of a top view of a human eye, in which the natural lens of the eye has been removed and replaced with an ophthalmic apparatus that includes angularly-varying phase members in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are schematic diagrams of exemplary ophthalmic apparatuses that include either refractive or diffractive angularly-varying phase members, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 5A 5B are plots illustrating performance of a conventional toric lens designed to apply maximum cylinder power at a corrective meridian when subjected to rotational misalignment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show plots of off-axis performances of an exemplary ophthalmic apparatus (diffractive or refractive) that includes angularly-varying phase members in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams of an exemplary ophthalmic apparatus that includes angularly-varying phase members in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating height profiles of exemplary ophthalmic apparatuses of FIGS. 1A-1B and 7A-7B in accordance with the illustrative embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of an exemplary multi-focal lens ophthalmic apparatus that includes angularly-varying phase members in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the multi-focal lens ophthalmic apparatus of FIG. 10 configured as a bifocal lens in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the multi-focal lens ophthalmic apparatus of FIG. 10 configured as a tri-focal lens in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of an exemplary ophthalmic apparatus that includes angularly-varying phase members (refractive, diffractive, or both) in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a table of the ophthalmic apparatus of FIG. 13 configured as a tri-focal lens in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams of an exemplary ophthalmic apparatus that includes angularly-varying phase members with asymmetric height profiles in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C, each illustrates a plurality of exemplary height profiles of the ophthalmic apparatus of FIGS. 15A-15B in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 17A and 17B is a diagram of an exemplary ophthalmic apparatus that includes angularly-varying phase members and a symmetric height profile in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 18A, 18B, and 18C, each illustrates a plurality of exemplary height profiles of the anterior or posterior face of the ophthalmic apparatus of FIGS. 17A and 17B in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams of an exemplary ophthalmic apparatus that includes refractive angularly-varying phase members in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, and 20E each illustrates a plurality of exemplary height profiles of the anterior or posterior face of the ophthalmic apparatus of FIGS. 19A-19B, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 21A, 21B, and 21C are diagrams illustrating an exemplary ophthalmic apparatus that includes refractive angularly-varying phase members, in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 22A and 22B are diagrams illustrating a top and bottom view of an ophthalmic apparatus of FIGS. 15A-15B with extended tolerance band markers in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 23 is diagram of a method to generate, via a processor, the surface with the angularly-varying phase members, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram of an example computing device configured to generate the surface with the angularly-varying phase members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually inconsistent.

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to toric lenses or surface shapes, and/or related methods and systems for fabrication and use thereof. Toric lenses according to embodiments of the present disclosure find particular use in or on the eyes of human or animal subjects. Embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated below with particular reference to intraocular lenses; however, other types of lenses fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide improved ophthalmic lens (including, for example, contact lenses, and intraocular lenses, corneal lenses and the like) and include monofocal refractive lenses, monofocal diffractive lenses, bifocal refractive lenses, bifocal diffractive lenses, and multifocal refractive lenses, multifocal diffractive lenses.

As used herein, the term “refractive optical power” or “refractive power” means optical power produced by the refraction of light as it interacts with a surface, lens, or optic. As used herein, the term “diffractive optical power” or “diffractive power” means optical power resulting from the diffraction of light as it interacts with a surface, lens, or optic.

As used herein, the term “optical power” means the ability of a lens or optics, or portion thereof, to converge or diverge light to provide a focus (real or virtual), and is commonly specified in units of reciprocal meters (m⁻³) or Diopters (D). When used in reference to an intraocular lens, the term “optical power” means the optical power of the intraocular lens when disposed within a media having a refractive index of 1.336 (generally considered to be the refractive index of the aqueous and vitreous humors of the human eye), unless otherwise specified. Except where noted otherwise, the optical power of a lens or optic is from a reference plane associated with the lens or optic (e.g., a principal plane of an optic). As used herein, a cylinder power refers to the power required to correct for astigmatism resulting from imperfections of the cornea and/or surgically induced astigmatism.

As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately”, when used in reference to a Diopter value of an optical power, mean within plus or minus 0.25 Diopter of the referenced optical power(s). As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately”, when used in reference to a percentage (%), mean within plus or minus one percent (±1%). As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately”, when used in reference to a linear dimension (e.g., length, width, thickness, distance, etc.) mean within plus or minus one percent (1%) of the value of the referenced linear dimension.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams of an exemplary ophthalmic apparatus 100 (e.g., an intraocular toric lens) that includes angularly-varying phase members 102 (refractive, diffractive, or both) configured to provide extended rotational tolerance in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

The angularly-varying phase members have a center structure that applies cylinder power at a corrective meridian (e.g., the high power meridian). In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the corrective meridian is shown at Θ=0° and Θ=180° with the center structure being disposed at such Θ positions. Off-center structures of the angularly-varying phase members extend from the center structure in a gradually varying manner to apply cylinder power to a band of meridians surrounding the corrective meridian enabling the ophthalmic apparatus to operate off-axis (or off-meridian) to the corrective meridian (e.g., the astigmatism meridian). As shown in FIG. 1A, the off-center structures extends, at least, from Θ=0° to Θ=10° and Θ=−10° to facilitate off-axis operation (from Θ=0°) up to ±10°. The off-center structures may extend from Θ=0° to Θ=90° and Θ=−90°. These meridians may be referred to as a dynamic meridian.

Although the operational boundaries of the angularly varying phase members are shown to be at about ±10°, it is contemplated that other angular values may be used, as are discussed herein. In addition, in some embodiments, it is also contemplated that operational boundaries may be symmetrical or asymmetrical. For example, in certain embodiments, the operational boundaries may be skewed to one rotation, e.g., between +9° and −11° or, e.g., between +11° and −9°.

The angularly-varying phase members, in some embodiments, include an optimized combination of angularly and zonally diffractive (or refractive) phase structure located at each meridian to vary the extended depth of focus to a plurality of nearby focus points. Light directed to such nearby focus points are thus directed to the desired focus point when the ophthalmic apparatus is subjected to a rotational offset from a primary intended axis of alignment, thereby extending the rotational tolerance of the apparatus to an extended tolerance band. This may also be referred to as “extended tolerance astigmatism band” or “extended misalignment band.” Remarkably, this extended tolerance astigmatism band delivers cylinder power to correct for the astigmatism for a range of meridians (e.g., up to ±10° or more as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B), thereby eliminating any need for additional corrective measures (e.g., supplemental corrective devices or another surgical intervention) when the implanted ophthalmic apparatus is not perfectly aligned to the desired astigmatism meridian in the eye.

Put another way, the angularly-varying phase members facilitate an extended band of the corrective meridian that has minimal, and/or clinically acceptable, degradation of the visual acuity and modulation transfer function when the ophthalmic apparatus is subjected to rotational misalignment between the astigmatic axis and a center axis of the corrective meridian.

In some embodiments, an exemplified toric IOL includes dynamic meridian or angularly varying efficiency quadric optics. In another embodiment, an exemplified toric IOL includes dynamic meridian or angularly varying efficiency trifocal optics. In another embodiment, an exemplified toric IOL includes double dynamic meridian or angularly varying efficiency bifocal optics. In another embodiment, the bifocal or trifocal feature may be disposed on one optical surface or on both optical surfaces of a single optical lens or on any surfaces of a multiple optical elements working together as a system.

Referring still to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an embodiment of the angularly-varying phase members 102 is shown. In this embodiment, the angularly-varying phase members 102 are formed in multiple-zones (shown as zones 102 a, 102 b, 102 c), each forming a spatially-varying “butterfly” shaped structure centered around the optical axis 106. The multiple-zone structure (102 a, 102 b, and 102 c), and angularly-varying phase members 102 therein, form a first “high power meridian” (e.g., having a constant power equal to the base spherical power plus a cylinder power of the lens) at a first meridian (e.g., axis 110 shown as Θ=0° and Θ=180°) that corresponds to an axis of the eye to apply a correction. The first corrective meridian 110 focuses light that passes therethrough to a first foci (i.e., point of focus) and is intended to align with the astigmatic axis of the eye. At nearby meridians (e.g., −10°, −9°, −8°, −7°, −6°, −5°, −4°, −3°, −2°, −1°, 1°, 2°, 3°, 4°, 5°, 6°, 7°, 8°, 9°, and 10°), the angularly-varying phase members 102 focus light that passes therethrough to a plurality of foci near the first foci. The angularly-varying phase members 102 vary from between the first meridian (Θ=0°) and another meridian located about 10 degrees from the first meridian (e.g., axis 114 shown as Θ=10°).

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate the exemplary ophthalmic apparatus 100 having a diffractive surface 120. A diffractive surface comprises multiple echelette elements. In some embodiments, an intraocular lens, which has a diffractive grating covering its entire surface, has between 15 and 32, or more echelette elements. In some embodiments, the diffractive grating includes more than 32 echelette elements. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, multiple echelette elements cover each region, or if there is one echelette element, or the echelette spans only a portion of the region, then a refractive area will cover the rest of the region. Though shown here as a diffractive surface, the angularly varying phase members are later illustrated as a refractive surface, as later discussed herein.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, both the heights (i.e., thicknesses) of the lens and the spatial sizes, at each zone, vary among the different axes to form the angularly-varying phase member 102. To illustrate this structure, both a first height profile 116 of the lens along the first corrective meridian (e.g., at Θ=0°) and a second height profile 118 of the lens along a lower power meridian (i.e., at axis 114 shown as Θ=10°) are presented at plots 108 a and 108 b, respectively, for each of FIGS. 1A and 1B. The height profile of the lens varies at each axis as the first height profile 116 gradually transitions (e.g., as shown by the curved profile 122) into the second height profile 118. The first and second height profiles 116 and 118 are illustrated relative to one another in a simplified format. It should be appreciated that there may be multiple echelette elements (i.e., diffractive structures) in each of the multiple zone structures, surrounded by a refractive region. Alternatively, rather than relying on diffraction, one or more of the multiple zone structures may have only refraction surfaces to vary power.

It should also be appreciated that the height profiles herein are illustrated in a simplified form (e.g., as a straight line). The height profiles for each zone may form other surfaces—such as refractive, diffractive—or have other shapes—such convex, concave, or combinations thereof. The profiles may be added to, or incorporated into, a base lens as, for example, shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D. FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are schematic diagrams of exemplary ophthalmic apparatuses that include either refractive or diffractive angularly-varying phase members, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

Referring still to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the multiple-zone structure (e.g., 104 a, 104 b, and 104 c), and angularly-varying phase members 126 therein, form a second “high power meridian” 112 (i.e., axis 112 shown as Θ=90°) which is orthogonal to the first corrective meridian 110. The second corrective meridian 112 includes a second angularly varying phase structure 126. In some embodiments, the second angularly varying phase structure focuses light to a second set of foci (e.g., as part of a multi-focal lens configuration).

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F, each illustrates a plurality of height profiles of the angularly-varying phase member 102 of FIGS. 1A and 1B between the first high power meridian (at Θ=0°) and the operational edge of the angularly varying phase members in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. In FIG. 2B, representative height profiles (of an echelette element) at Θ=0° (202); Θ=2° (204); Θ=4° (206); Θ=6° (208); Θ=8° (210); and Θ=10° (212) (also shown in FIG. 2A) are provided as cross-sections of the echelette elements at the different meridians shown in FIG. 2A. As shown, the height profiles at axes nearby to the first high power meridian (e.g., between ±10°) have a similar shape, as the first high power meridian. The height profile varies in a continuous gradual manner (e.g., having a sine and cosine relationship) along the radial direction (e.g., at different radial values) and along the angular direction (e.g., at different angular positions). The varying of the angular position and of the radial position, e.g., between Θ=0° and Θ=10° and between Θ=0° and Θ=−10° forms the angularly varying phase member. This can also be observed in FIGS. 2B and 2C. In FIGS. 2B and 2C, the edge of an echelette element of the height profile of the angularly-varying phase member at Θ=2° (204) is shown to vary more abruptly in relation to the center meridian at Θ=0° (202). The abrupt transition in the edge position is shown to transition more slowly at Θ=4° (206), and even more slowly at Θ=6° (208); then Θ=8° (210); and then Θ=10° (212). In contrast, the height profile transitions more slowly near the center meridian at Θ=0° and then more sharply at the edge. This transition may be described as a cosine-based or sine-based function, a polynomial function, or a function derived from a combination thereof.

FIG. 2C illustrates a height profiles (near the optical axis and between the operational boundaries of the angularly varying phase member 102) at Θ=0° (202); Θ=2° and −2° (204); Θ=4° and −4° (206); Θ=6° and −6° (208); Θ=8° and −8° (210); and Θ=10° and −10° (212) superimposed next to one another. This variation of the height profile along the radial axis provides a lens region that focuses light at the desired foci and other foci nearby. To this end, radial offset (i.e., misalignment) of the ophthalmic apparatus from the center axis of a desired corrective meridian results in its nearby regions focusing the light to the desired foci. This effect is further illustrated in FIG. 3.

In FIGS. 2D, 2E, and 2F, example height profiles of the lens surface between Θ=0° and Θ=45° are shown. As shown in FIGS. 2E and 2F, the height profiles of the angularly varying phase member vary as a cosine-based or sine-based function. In some embodiments, the height profiles of the lens surface between Θ=45° and Θ=90° are mirrored at Θ=45° to the lens surface between Θ=0° and Θ=45°.

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of a top view of a human eye 302, in which the natural lens of the eye 302 has been removed and replaced with an intraocular lens 100 (shown in simplified form in the upper portion of FIG. 3 and in greater detail in the lower portion of FIG. 3). Light enters from the left of FIG. 3, and passes through the cornea 304, the anterior chamber 306, the iris 308, and enters the capsular bag 310. Prior to surgery, the natural lens occupies essentially the entire interior of the capsular bag 310. After surgery, the capsular bag 310 houses the intraocular lens 100, in addition to a fluid that occupies the remaining volume and equalizes the pressure in the eye.

After passing through the intraocular lens, light exits the posterior wall 312 of the capsular bag 310, passes through the posterior chamber 328, and strikes the retina 330, which detects the light and converts it to a signal transmitted through the optic nerve 332 to the brain. The intraocular lens 100 comprises an optic 324 and may include one or more haptics 326 that are attached to the optic 324 and may serve to center the optic 324 in the eye and/or couple the optic 324 to the capsular bag 310 and/or zonular fibers 320 of the eye.

The optic 324 has an anterior surface 334 and a posterior surface 336, each having a particular shape that contributes to the refractive or diffractive properties of the lens. Either or both of these lens surfaces may optionally have an element made integral with or attached to the surfaces. FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are schematic diagrams of exemplary ophthalmic apparatuses that include either refractive or diffractive angularly-varying phase members, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Specifically, FIGS. 4A and 4B show examples of diffractive lenses, and FIGS. 4C and 4D show examples of refractive lenses. The diffractive lenses or refractive lenses includes the angularly varying phase members as described herein. The refractive and/or diffractive elements on the anterior and/or posterior surfaces, in some embodiments, have anamorphic or toric features that can generate astigmatism to offset the astigmatism from a particular cornea in an eye.

Referring still to FIG. 3, the intraocular lens 100 includes angularly-varying phase members (reflective, diffractive, or both) that focus at a plurality of focus points that are offset radially to one another so as to provide an extended tolerance to misalignments of the lens 100 when implanted into the eye 302. That is, when the center axis of a corrective meridian is exactly matched to the desired astigmatic axis, only a first portion of the cylinder axis is focused at the desired point of focus (338) (e.g., at the retina) while second portions of the cylinder axis focuses at other points (340) nearby that are radially offset to the desired point of focus (338). To this end, when the primary axis of the astigmatism of the intraocular lens is rotationally offset (shown as arrow 342) with the astigmatism of the eye, the second portion of the cylinder axis focuses the light to the desired point of focus.

Artificial lenses (e.g., contact lenses or artificial intraocular lenses) can correct for certain visual impairments such as an inability of the natural lens to focus at near, intermediate or far distances; and/or astigmatism. Intraocular toric lenses have the potential for correcting astigmatism while also correcting for other vision impairments such as cataract, presbyopia, etc. However, in some patients, implanted intraocular toric lenses may not adequately correct astigmatism due to rotational misalignment of the corrective meridian of the lenses with the astigmatic meridian. In some patients following the surgical implant of the toric lenses, the corrective meridian of the implanted toric lenses can be rotationally misaligned to the astigmatic meridian, in some instances, by as much as 10 degrees. However, toric lenses that are designed to provide maximum correction (e.g., 1D to 9D) at the astigmatic meridian are subject to significant reduction in effectiveness of the correction due to any misalignment from the corrective meridian. In certain designs, it is observed that if the cylindrical power axis were mismatched by 1 degree, there would be about 3 percent reduction of the effectiveness of the correction. The degradation increases with the degree of misalignment. If there were a 10-degree misalignment, there would be about 35% reduction of the effectiveness of the correction. This effect is illustrated in FIG. 4 discussed below.

FIGS. 5A and 5B include plots that illustrated the above-discussed degraded performance of conventional toric lens when subjected to rotational misalignments. This conventional toric lens is configured to provide 6.00 Diopters cylinder powers at the IOL plane, 4.11 Diopters cylinder power at the corneal plane, and a corneal astigmatism correction range (i.e., preoperative corneal astigmatism to predicted effects) between 4.00 and 4.75 Diopters.

Referring to FIG. 5A, a plot of the undesired meridian power (also referred to as a residual meridian power (“OC”)) (shown along the y-axis) added due to the rotational misalignments (shown along the x-axis) of the toric IOL is shown, including the residual powers for i) a negative 10-degree misalignment (shown as line 502), ii) a 0-degree misalignment (shown as line 504), and iii) a positive 10-degree misalignment (shown as line 506). As shown, the undesired added meridian power varies between a maximum of ±0.75 Diopters at around the 45-degree meridian angle (shown as 508) and at about the 135-degree meridian angle (shown as 510). Notably, this undesired added meridian power is outside the tolerance of a healthy human eye, which can tolerant undesired effects up to about 0.4 Diopters (e.g., at the cornea plane) for normal visual acuity (i.e., “20/20 vision”). Because the undesired effects exceeds the astigmatism tolerance of the human eye, corrective prescription glasses, or further surgical operation to correct the implant misalignment, may be necessary to mitigate the effects of the misalignment of such toric IOLs.

This undesired meridian power may be expressed as Equation 1 below.

$\begin{matrix} {{OC} = {2\mspace{11mu} \sin \mspace{14mu} \alpha*\frac{C}{2}0.7\mspace{11mu} \cos \mspace{11mu} \left( {2\left( {\theta + {90} + \frac{\alpha}{2}} \right)} \right)}} & \left( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 1} \right) \end{matrix}$

As shown in Equation 1, θ is the correction meridian (also referred to as the cylindrical power axis) (in degrees); C is the astigmatic power (at the IOL plane) to be corrected at meridian θ (in Diopters); and α is the magnitude of rotational misalignment of the cylindrical power axis to the astigmatic axis (in degrees).

FIG. 5B shows a plot illustrating the tolerance of a toric IOL to misalignment (shown in the y-axis) and a corresponding cylindrical power that may be applied (shown in the x-axis) for each misalignment to not exceed the astigmatism tolerance of the human eye (i.e., degrade the overall visual acuity). The tolerance to misalignment may be calculated as

${\alpha } \leq \sin^{{- 1}\frac{\frac{0.4}{2}}{\frac{C}{0.7}}}$

where α is the magnitude of rotational misalignment (in degrees). The calculation may be reduced to

${\alpha } \leq {\sin^{{- 1}\frac{{0.2}9}{C}}.}$

As shown, for a misalignment of 5 degrees, which is routinely observed in IOL implantations, the correction effectiveness of such IOL implants can only be maintained for a toric IOL with 3.75 Diopters or less. That is, a toric IOL having cylinder power above 3.75 Diopters would exhibit degraded visual acuity due to the residual power exceeding the astigmatism tolerance of a human eye. This effect is worsen with further degrees of misalignment. For example, at about 10 degrees, the effectiveness of a toric IOL is greatly reduced where only 1.5 Diopters cylinder power or less can be applied so as to not detrimentally effect the visual acuity. Given that cylinder power of convention toric IOLs may range between 1.00 Diopters and 9.00 Diopters, these toric IOLs are reduced in effectiveness post-operation due to the misalignments of cylinder axis.

Each of FIGS. 6A and 6B shows plots illustrating modular transfer functions (MTFs) in white light for two toric IOLs (shown as 602 a and 602 b) each configured with angularly-varying phased members when subjected to off-axis rotations. FIG. 6A illustrates the performance for a refractive toric IOL, and FIG. 6B illustrates performance for a diffractive toric IOL.

Remarkably, the cylinder power of the lens configured with angularly varying phase members provides an extended tolerance of misalignment up to 10 degrees, and more, of off-axis rotation. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the modulation transfer function (MTF) is maintained across the extended range of alignment fora lens configured with the angularly varying phase members. In contrast, at certain degrees of misalignment, the MTF of a toric IOL (shown as lines 604 a and 604 b) without the angularly varying phase member is near zero. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the MTF at about 3.5 degrees misalignment for a conventional toric lens is near zero. MTF is a modulation of the amplitude and phase functions of an image formed by the white light on a specified plane, e.g., the retina of the human eye, and characterizes the sensitivity of the lens.

Referring still to FIGS. 6A and 6B, an ophthalmic apparatus that includes angularly varying phase members has a lower maximum cylinder range (as compared to lens without such structure). Rather, the angularly varying phase members apply the cylinder power to a band surrounding the corrective meridian, thereby providing a continuous band that makes the lens may tolerant due to misalignment. As shown, in this embodiment, the sensitivity of the ophthalmic apparatus with the angularly varying phase members is less by 20% as compared to a lens without the angularly varying phase members. And, at 10 degrees of misalignment (or off-axis operation) from the targeted corrective axis, the modulation transfer function (MTF) degradation for the ophthalmic apparatus configured with the angularly varying phase member is still acceptable. In this example, the ophthalmic apparatus configured with the angularly varying phase members is configured as a monofocal toric lens with 4.0 Diopters cylindrical power. Here, the MTF is at 100 1p/−mm and has a spatial frequency equivalent to 30 c./degree for an emmetropia eye with 20/20 visual acuity. The performance of the toric IOL with the angularly varying phase member at 5 degrees off-meridian (e.g., line 602 a) has comparable MTF performance to a similar toric IOL without the angularly varying phase structure at 2 degrees of misalignment (e.g., line 604 a).

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams of an ophthalmic apparatus 100 (e.g., an intraocular toric lens) that includes angularly-varying phase members 102 (reflective, diffractive, or both) that disperse light therethrough to a plurality of foci that are offset radially to one another so as to provide an extended tolerance to misalignments of the lens 100 when implanted in an eye in accordance with another illustrative embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 7A-7B, the apparatus 100 has an asymmetric height profile 702 in which the maximum height of the face of the apparatus differs between the different zones. To demonstrate the asymmetric height profile 702, representative echelette in zones 102 b and 102 c of an example refractive surface is shown. In zone 102 b, the height of a representative echelette 704 is shown to be greater than the height of a representative echelette 706 in zone 102 c.

In some embodiments, the asymmetric height profile 702 may be configured to direct light to a plurality foci. For example, the apparatus 100 with the asymmetric height profile 702 may be used for as a trifocal lens. In other embodiments, the apparatus with the asymmetric height profile 702 is used for a quad-focal lens. In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 with the asymmetric height profile 702 is used for a double bi-focal lens. In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 with the asymmetric height profile 702 is used for a mono-focal lens. In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 with the asymmetric height profile 702 is used for a combined bi-focal and tri-focal lens. In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 with the asymmetric height profile 702 is used for an anterior bifocal and a posterior tri-focal lens. In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 with the asymmetric height profile 702 is used for a posterior bifocal and an anterior tri-focal lens.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a plurality of height profiles of the angularly-varying phase members 102 of the lens in accordance with various illustrative embodiments. As shown in FIG. 8, the height profile is symmetric at each meridian in that the maximum height (shown as 802, 804, and 806) at the face of the lens are the same. As shown in FIG. 9, the height profile is asymmetric in that the maximum height at the face of the lens are different.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example multi-focal intraocular lens 1000 configured with angularly varying phase members in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. As shown, the lens 1000 provides a mono-focal at corrective meridian Θ=0° and 180°. In addition, the lens 1000 provides a second mono-focal at corrective meridian Θ=90° and −90°. In addition, the lens 1000 provides a first bi-focal at Θ=−45° and 135°. In addition, the lens 1000 provides a second bi-focal at Θ=45° and −135°. In some embodiments, the lens is refractive. In other embodiments, the lens is diffractive.

With the angularly varying phase members, images at all meridians (Θ=0°, Θ=45°, Θ=90°, Θ=135°, Θ=180°, Θ=−135°, Θ=−90°, and Θ=−45°) reach a 20/20 “uncorrected distance visual acuity” (UDVA). FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams illustrating added cylindrical power, from the angularly varying phase members, in the radial and angular position in accordance with the illustrative embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates added cylinder power by the angularly varying phase members for a multi-focal intraocular lens configured as a bifocal. As shown in FIG. 11, for a given cylindrical power (e.g., 6.0 Diopters), the angularly varying phase members add varying magnitudes of cylinder powers between, e.g., 0.125 Diopters and 1.0 Diopter between the peak corrective meridian Θ=0° (e.g., the astigmatic meridian) and the non-peak corrective meridian Θ=45° in which minimum cylinder power is added at Θ=0° (where the meridian is a mono-focal, shown at points 1102), and in which the maximum cylinder power is added at Θ=45° where the meridian is configured as a bi-focal (shown along line 1104). The added power to the non-peak corrective meridian increases the tolerance of the IOL to misalignment from the corrective axis.

FIG. 12 illustrates a trifocal intraocular lens with the angularly varying phase members in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, the added varying cylinder power is added between the peak corrective meridian Θ=0° and the non-peak corrective meridian Θ=45°, as shown in FIG. 11. As further shown, a trifocal optics 1202 is added. The trifocal 1202 does not have an angularly varying phase member.

FIG. 13 illustrates an ophthalmic apparatus 1300 having angularly varying phase members to extend tolerance of ocular astigmatism by varying extended depth of focus at each meridian through an optimized combination of angularly and zonally diffractive phase structure on each meridian in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 13, the ophthalmic apparatus 1300 includes a first corrective meridian 90°*N°±α° (variable 01), where α is the extended tolerance of the first corrective meridian, and N is an integer. For N=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, the meridians includes 0° (1302), ±90° (1304), and 180° (1306). In some embodiments, α is ±3°, ±3.25°, ±3.5°,±3.75°, ±4°, ±4°, ±4.25°, ±4.5°, ±4.75°, ±5°, ±5.25°, ±5.5°, ±5.75°, ±6°, ±6.25°, ±6.5°, ±6.75°, ±7°, ±7.25°, ±7.5°, ±7.75°, ±8°, ±8.25°, ±8.5°, ±8.75°, ±9°,±9.25°, ±9.5°, ±9.75°, and ±10°. Where α is ±10°, the IOL would have a dynamic and optimized efficiency for correcting astigmatic effects that can tolerate misalignment of the cylindrical axis up to 10 (variable 08) degrees in either counter clockwise or clockwise rotation. It is contemplated that terms noted as variables may be varied, modified, or adjusted, in some embodiments, to produce desired or intended effects and benefits, as discussed herein.

FIG. 14 illustrates a table for a trifocal IOL configured with the angularly varying phase members. As shown in FIG. 14, the light transmission efficiency at a first corrective foci 1402 (e.g., at the retina) is about 100% while other foci along the same meridian is about 0%. This configuration establishes the first corrective meridian 1402 at θ=0° and other meridians, e.g., θ=±90° and, e.g., 180°, as a monofocal with additional chromatic aberration reduction.

In addition, at meridian 45°*N°±α° (1408 and 1410) (variable 02), the light transmission efficiency varies for three point of focus (shown as 1408 a, 1408 b, and 1408 c) (e.g., at the front of the retina, at the retina, and behind the retina) of the optics at this meridian. For N=1, 2, 3, 4, the meridians includes ±45° and ±90°. As shown in FIG. 14, at the first foci (1408 a) (e.g., at the front of the retina), the light transmission efficiency is about 25% (variable 03), and the optics includes added power that matches the ocular astigmatic power corresponding to the human astigmatism tolerance level. At the second foci (1408 b) (e.g., at the retina), the light transmission efficiency is about 50% (variable 04) efficiency. At the third foci (1408 c) (e.g., behind the retina), the light transmission efficiency is about 25% (variable 05), and the optics include added power having the same magnitude as the first foci though with an opposite sign. At other meridians, the focus on the retina has efficiency between 0.5% and 100% (variable 06,) and the other focus not on the retina has efficiency between 0% and 25% (variable 07). In some embodiments, the light transmission efficiency are varied via different materials that may be stacked, e.g., as a stacking lens, where each layer is comprised of a different material. In other embodiments, the angularly-varying phase members may be comprised of a material or materials that have a variation in refractive index, a gradient index, or a programmed index, for example liquid crystal which creates transmission efficiency change.

The thickness profile T₁(r, θ) for the IOL may be characterized by Equation 2 below.

T ₁(r, θ)=t ₁(r)|COS²(θ)|+t ₂(r)|SIN²(θ)|  (Equation 2)

According to Equation 2, t₁(r) and t₂(r) are step heights for each zone, and they each matches an optical path difference (OPD) from −2λ to 2λ, where λ is the design wavelength at zonal radius r.

Equation 2 may be simplified and represented as Equation 3, where A is adjusts the size of the extended operating band of the angularly varying phase member, and B provides an offset of the center of the angularly varying phase member with respect to a pre-defined reference frame (e.g., Θ=0° or Θ=90°, etc.).

T ₁(r, θ)=COS[Aθ+B]  (Equation 3)

Example: Angularly Varying Phase Members That Varies Along Angular Position

FIGS. 15-18, comprising, FIGS. 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B, 16C, 17A, 17B, 18A, 18B, and 18C, depict the ophthalmic apparatus with angularly varying phase members in accordance with other illustrative embodiments. According to these embodiments, the angularly varying phase members are located with a fixed-size zone and varies only along the angular position. In FIGS. 15A, 15B, 16B, 16C, 17A, 17B, 18B, and 18C, height profiles are illustrated via representative echelette elements for a diffractive surface.

As shown in FIGS. 15A-15B, the ophthalmic apparatus includes a plurality of zones 1502 (shown as 1502 a, 1504 b, and 1504 c). The zones 1502 a, 1502 b, 1502 c defined at a first corrective meridian θ=0° and 180° (1506) has approximately the same zone length (i.e., cylinder power) as the zones 1502 a, 1502 b, 1502 c defined at a second meridian θ=45° and 135° (1508). As further shown in FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C, the height profile (shown as 1602, 1604, 1606, 1608, 1610, and 1612) of the face of the lens varies along the angular position θ=0°, θ=9°, θ=18°, θ=27°, θ=36°, and θ=45°.

FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate an ophthalmic apparatus having a height profile across the multiple zones (shown as 1702 a, 1702 b, and 1702 c) in which the height of the face of the lens angularly varies with the meridian axes. As shown in FIGS. 18A, 18B, and 18C, the height profile (shown as 1802, 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810, and 1812) of the face of the lens varies along the angular position θ=0°, θ=9°, θ=°, θ=27°, θ=36°, and θ=45°.

Referring back to FIG. 13, in another aspect, the ophthalmic apparatus includes a plurality of alignment markings, including a first set of alignment markings 1302 and a second set of alignment markings 1304, that indicate the corrective meridian of the lens. In some embodiments, the first set of alignment markings 1302 is located at the meridian θ=0° and 180°. The second set of alignment markings 1304 may include corresponding sets of markets to define a tolerance band for the lens. In some embodiments, the second set of alignment markings 1304 is located at ±5° radial offset from the first set of alignment markings 1302.

Example: Refractive Lens Surfaces with Angularly Varying Phase Members

FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams of an exemplary ophthalmic apparatus 1900 that includes refractive angularly-varying phase members 102 in accordance with another illustrative embodiment. A height profile 1902 (shown as 1902 a and 1902 b) of the refractive surface 1904 (shown as 1904 a and 1904 b) is shown at Θ=0° and Θ=45°. As shown in FIG. 19A, the first height profile 1902 a of the lens transitions into the second height profile 1904 b. Here, the inflection point of the refractive surface is shown to vary spatially (i.e., changing radial values) and angularly (i.e., changing height or thickness values).

FIGS. 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, and 20E illustrate a plurality of exemplary height profiles of the anterior or posterior face across the angularly phase members of the ophthalmic apparatus of FIGS. 19A-19B, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. That is, the height profile is shown between the first high power meridian (at Θ=0°and the operational edge of the angularly varying phase members (e.g., at Θ=±α, e.g., Θ=10° and Θ=−10°) in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. In FIG. 20B, representative height profiles at Θ=0° (2002); Θ=2° (2004); Θ=4° (2006); Θ=6° (2008); Θ=8° (2010); and Θ=10° (2012) (also shown in FIG. 20A) are provided as cross-sections of the echelette at the different meridians shown in FIG. 20A. As shown, the height profiles at axes nearby to the first high power meridian (e.g., between ±10°) have a similar shape, as the first high power meridian. The height profile varies in a continuous gradual manner (e.g., having a sine and cosine relationship) along the radial direction. This can be observed in FIGS. 20B and 20C. In FIG. 20B, the overall refractive profile is shown, and in FIG. 20C, an inflection point 2014 (e.g., shown as points 2014 a, 2014 b, 2014 c, 2014 d, 2014 e, and 2014 f) defined at a given zone boundary is shown. This transition of the inflection points 2014 may be described as a cosine-based or sine-based function, or a function derived from a combination thereof

The thickness profile T1(r, θ) for the refractive design may be characterized by Equation 4 below.

T1(r, θ)=t ₁(r)|COS²(θ)|+t ₂(r)|SIN²(θ)|  (Equation 4)

According to Equation 4, t₁(r) and t₂(r) are the add power for each zone, and they each match optical power needs from −200D to +5.0D, for a design wavelength at zonal radius r.

FIG. 20C illustrates a first portion of the height profiles (near the optical axis) at Θ=0° (202); Θ=2° (204); Θ=4° (206); Θ=6° (208); Θ=8° (210); and =10° (212) superimposed next to one another. This variation of the height profile along the radial axis provides a lens region that focuses light at the desired foci and other foci nearby. To this end, radial offset (i.e., misalignment) of the ophthalmic apparatus from the center axis of a desired corrective meridian results in its nearby regions focusing the light to the desired foci.

In FIGS. 20D and 20E, example height profiles of the lens surface between Θ=0° and Θ=45° are shown. As shown in FIGS. 20D and 20E, the height profiles of the angularly varying phase member vary as a cosine-based or sine-based function. In some embodiments, the height profiles of the lens surface between Θ=45° and Θ=90° are mirrored at Θ=45° to the lens surface between Θ=0° and Θ=45°.

It is contemplated that refractive angularly varying phase member can vary symmetrically or asymmetrically, for a given zone, as well as between the multiple zones, as described, for example, in relation to FIGS. 8, 9, 16, and 18. That is, inflection points in the refractive surface at a given zone (e.g., a first zone) may vary, in the radial and angular direction, at the same rate with inflection points in the refractive surface at another zone (e.g., a second zone), as described in relation to the diffractive element of FIG. 8. In addition, in some embodiments, inflection points in the refractive surface at a given zone (e.g., a first zone) may vary, in the radial and angular direction, at a different rate with inflection points in the refractive surface at another zone (e.g., a second zone), as described in relation to the diffractive element of FIG. 9. In addition, in some embodiments, inflection points in the refractive surface at a given zone (e.g., a first zone) may vary, only in the angular direction, at a same or different rate with inflection points in the refractive surface at another zone (e.g., a second zone), as described in relation to the diffractive element of FIGS. 16 and 18.

Example: Multi-Focal Refractive Ophthalmic Apparatus with Diffractive or Refractive Angularly Varying Phase Members

FIGS. 21A, 21B, and 21C are diagrams illustrating an exemplary ophthalmic apparatus 2100 that includes refractive or diffractive angularly-varying phase members 102, in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

The angularly-varying phase member 102, in FIG. 21, can be characterized as Equation 5, where r(θ) is the contour radius for the given meridian added power A(θ), wavelength λ, zone number n, and the scaling value s(θ), all at meridian θ.

$\begin{matrix} {{r(\theta)} = \sqrt{2 \cdot n \cdot \frac{{s(\theta)} \cdot \lambda}{A(\theta)}}} & \left( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 5} \right) \end{matrix}$

In FIG. 21A, the lens 2100 provides a mono-focal at corrective meridian Θ=0° and 180°. In addition, the lens 2100 provides a second mono-focal at corrective meridian Θ=90° and −90°. In some embodiments, the mono-focal corrective meridian Θ=0° and 180° and the mono-focal corrective meridian Θ=90° and −90° have the same focal point. In other embodiments, the mono-focal corrective meridian Θ=0° and 180° and the mono-focal corrective meridian Θ=90° and −90° have different focal points.

Referring still to FIG. 21A, the lens 2100 provides a first bi-focal at Θ=−45° and 135° and, in addition, the lens 2100 provides a second bi-focal at Θ=45° and −135°. In some embodiments, the bi-focal corrective meridian −45° and 135° and the bi-focal corrective meridian Θ=45° and −135° have the same focal point. In other embodiments, the bi-focal corrective meridian −45° and 135° and the bi-focal corrective meridian 45° and −135° have different focal points.

As shown in FIG. 21B, intraocular lens 2100 has a base cylindrical power (e.g., 6.0 Diopters) to which angularly varying phase members having additional cylindrical power are added. The angularly varying phase members adds the cylindrical power having an extended tolerance of operation, for example, up to ±10° (of misalignment) from a given corrective meridian (e.g., an astigmatism meridian). As shown, the additional cylindrical power are added to a surface sag coordinate (shown as “sag(z)”). Specifically, the added cylindrical power (shown as “Value θ” in FIG. 21B), for each given angular position θ (2104), in this exemplary lens design, varies between about −200 Diopters and about −0.01 Diopters (shown as “Value θ” 2104) and between about 0.01 Diopters and about 6.0 Diopters (shown as “Value θ” 2106). The added power is provided over the surface of the intraocular lens having a diameter 2108 of 6.0 mm (millimeters). Radial positions 2114 (shown as 2114 a and 2114 b) are illustratively shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B. As shown in FIG. 21C, the added cylindrical power, along each radial positions (e.g., at Θ=−180° to Θ=180°), at radial positions 2114 a and 2114 b are provided.

Referring still to FIG. 21B, the added cylindrical power of 0.01 Diopters and about 6.0 Diopters and of −200 Diopters and about −0.01 Diopters is added via a refractive surface 2110 (e.g., as shown having an “ETA(r, θ) surface profile”). As shown in FIG. 21B, the refractive surface 2110 has a modified thickness value at sag surface value of “0” at the center of the lens. The sag surface value, as shown, decreases to generate the refractive surface profile, as for example, described in relation to FIG. 4D. It should be appreciated that the provided sag surface profile is merely illustrative. It is contemplated that equivalent refractive surfaces may be produced on various lens surface in additive or subtractive manner, as shown, for example, but not limited to, in relation to FIGS. 4A-4D.

Referring still to FIG. 21B, the added cylindrical power profile 2112 may be used to provide distant vision and emmetropia correction for a given patient. Emmetropia generally refers to a state in which the eye is relaxed and focused on an object more than 20 feet away in which light coming from the focus object enters the eye in a substantially parallel, and the rays are focused on the retina without effort. To this end, image at all meridian can reach 20/20 “uncorrected distance visual acuity” (UDVA).

Referring to back to FIG. 21A, the added cylindrical power profile 2112 of FIG. 21B is added at angular position Θ=Θ° (shown as “Θ=Θ° 2116”). To this end, the angularly varying phase members, as described herein, for example, including those described in relation to FIGS. 1-2, 7-9, and 15-20 may be applied at any angular position along the lens surface, to generate a multi-focal lens.

Referring still to FIG. 21A, in some embodiment, a complementary angularly varying phase member may be added in a given quadrant of the lens. For example, an intraocular lens may include a first angularly varying phase member at an angular position between Θ=45° and Θ=90°; the intraocular lens may include a second angularly varying phase member at an angular position between Θ=0° and Θ=45° in which the second angularly varying phase member is mirrored, along the axis Θ=45°, with respect to the first angularly varying phase member.

Example: Alignment Markings for Extended Tolerance Band

FIGS. 22A and 22B depicts an ophthalmic apparatus with an extended tolerance astigmatic band. The ophthalmic apparatus includes the second set of alignment markings 1308 as discussed in relation to FIG. 13.

FIG. 23 is diagram of a method 2300 to generate, via a processor, the surface with the angularly-varying phase members, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. As shown in FIG. 23, the method 2300 includes generating (2302), via a processor, an initial design (2304) comprising a base surface (with base cylindrical power) and sectional enhancements (with added cylindrical power) and iteratively generating (2308) and evaluating, a revised design (2310), generated according to an optimization routine (2308) that is performed based on sectional parameters, until pre-defined image quality metric values and boundary parameter are achieved. The sectional enhancements power of the initial design and the iterative design is the surface with the angularly-varying phase members.

Referring still to FIG. 23, the method 2300 includes generating (2302) a first design (2304) via i) initial surface optical parameter, including a) base surface optical parameters 2312 and b) sectional surface optical parameters 2314, and ii) the pre-defined image quality metric values 2316. The base surface optical parameters 2312 include, in some embodiments, parameters associated with a radius of curvature for the toric lens (shown as “Radius of curvature” 2318), parameters associated with conic constant and aspheric coefficients (shown as “Conic constant”2320), parameters associated with base cylinder power (shown as “Cylinder power” 2322), and parameters associated lens and/or coating material characteristics such as refractive index (shown as “Refractive index” 2324). Other parameters may be used as part of the base surface optical parameters 2312. The section surface optical parameters 2314, in some embodiments, includes parameters associated with sectional added power and meridian characteristics (shown as “Sectional add power” 2328) and parameters associated with high order aberration characteristics, e.g., Zernike aberrations above second-order (shown as “High order aberrations” 2328).

Referring still to FIG. 23, the parameters associated with the sectional added power 2326, in some embodiments, include a cylindrical power, for a given optical zone. In some embodiments, the cylindrical power for the added power are all refractive, all diffractive, or a combination of both. The parameters associated with the high order aberration characteristics 2328, in some embodiments, include polynomial values (e.g., based on Zernike polynomials, Chebyshev polynomials, and combinations thereof) or characteristics such as polynomial orders and types as well as meridian boundaries for the high order aberrations. The high order aberration is constraint, e.g., from minimum to maximum cylindrical power over one or more meridian sections. In some embodiments, the high order aberrations is constraint or designated to a meridian, e.g., that corresponds to a corneal irregular geometry or limited retinal area functions. Such customization has a potential to truly benefit patients having cornea with or without astigmatism, patients with local Keratoconus with or without astigmatism, patients with glaucoma, patients with retinal macular degeneration (AMD), and the like.

Referring still to FIG. 23, the parameters associated with the pre-defined image quality metric value 2316 includes parameters associated with expected image quality metric (shown as “Expected image quality metric values” 2330) and parameters associated with special boundary restrain parameters (shown as “Special boundary restrain parameters” 2332). In some embodiments, image quality metric is based a comparison of a base polychromatic diffraction MTF (modular transfer function) (e.g., tangential and sagittal) to a number of error polychromatic diffraction MTFs values, e.g., where one or more polychromatic diffraction MTFs are determined for one or more misalignments of the generated tonic lens from its intended operating meridians, e.g., at 5-degree misalignment and at 10-degree misalignment.

Referring still to FIG. 23, the initial design (2304) is evaluated (2334 a) to determine image quality metric values (e.g., the base polychromatic diffraction MTF, e.g., at 0 degree misalignment) and the error polychromatic diffraction MTFs, e.g., at the 5 and 10 degrees misalignment) and boundary parameters. The determined image quality metric values are evaluated (2336) to determine whether the image quality metric values and boundary parameters meet an expected outcome, e.g., a value of 0.2. In some embodiments, the expected outcome is whether there is no cut off through spatial frequency beyond 100 cpd. Upon determining that the condition is met, the method 2300 is stop (2338). It is contemplated that other image quality metrics may be used, e.g., the optical transfer function (OTF), phase transfer function (PhTF), and etc.

Where the condition is not met, the method adjusts (2308) sectional parameters to be optimized and rerun the optimization to generate the revised design 2310. In some embodiments, the adjusted sectional parameters may include power A(θ), wavelength λ, zone number n, and the scaling value s(θ), as for example, shown in FIGS. 19A-19B, 20A-20E, 21A-21C, which is expressed as

${{r(\theta)} = \sqrt{2 \cdot n \cdot \frac{{s(\theta)} \cdot \lambda}{A(\theta)}}},$

where r(θ) is the contour radius for the given meridian added power A(θ), wavelength λ, zone number n, and the scaling value s(θ), all at meridian θ.

Referring back to FIG. 23, the method 2300 then includes evaluating (2334 b) the revised design 2310 to determine image quality metric values (e.g., the base polychromatic diffraction MTF, e.g., at 0 degree misalignment) and the error polychromatic diffraction MTFs, e.g., at the 5 and 10 degrees misalignment) and boundary parameters, as discussed in relation to step 2334 a, and re-evaluating (2336) whether the revised image quality metric values and boundary parameters meet the expected outcome, as discussed in relation to step 2336.

In some embodiments, the method 2300 is performed in an optical and illumination design tool such as Zemax (Kirkland, Wash.). It is contemplated that the method 2300 can be performed in other simulation and/or design environment.

The present technology may be used, for example, in the Tecnis toric intraocular lens product line as manufactured by Abbott Medical Optics, Inc. (Santa Ana, Calif.).

It is not the intention to limit the disclosure to embodiments disclosed herein. Other embodiments may be used that are within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the above disclosed angularly varying phase members may be used for multifocal toric, extended range toric, and other categorized IOLs for extended tolerance of astigmatism caused by factors including the cylindrical axis misalignment. In addition, the above disclosed angularly varying phase members may be applied to spectacle, contact lens, corneal inlay, anterior chamber IOL, or any other visual device or system.

Exemplary Computer System

FIG. 24 is a diagram of an example computing device configured to generate the surface with the angularly-varying phase members. As used herein, “computer” may include a plurality of computers. The computers may include one or more hardware components such as, for example, a processor 2421, a random access memory (RAM) module 2422, a read-only memory (ROM) module 2423, a storage 2424, a database 2425, one or more input/output (I/O) devices 2426 and an interface 2427. Alternatively and/or additionally, controller 2420 may include one or more software components such as, for example, a computer-readable medium including computer executable instructions for performing a method associated with the exemplary embodiments. It is contemplated that one or more of the hardware components listed above may be implemented using software. For example, storage 2424 may include a software partition associated with one or more other hardware components. It is understood that the components listed above are exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

Processor 2421 may include one or more processors, each configured to execute instructions and process data to perform one or more functions associated with a computer for indexing images. Processor 2421 may be communicatively coupled to RAM 2422, ROM 2423, storage 2424, database 2425, I/O devices 2426, and interface 2427. Processor 2421 may be configured to execute sequences of computer program instructions to perform various processes. The computer program instructions may be loaded into RAM 2422 for execution by processor 2421. As used herein, processor refers to a physical hardware device that executes encoded instructions for performing functions on inputs and creating outputs.

RAM 2422 and ROM 2423 may each include one or more devices for storing information associated with operation of processor 2421. For example, ROM 2423 may include a memory device configured to access and store information associated with controller 2420, including information associated with IOL lenses and their parameters. RAM 2422 may include a memory device for storing data associated with one or more operations of processor 2421. For example, ROM 2423 may load instructions into RAM 2422 for execution by processor 2421.

Storage 2424 may include any type of mass storage device configured to store information that processor 2421 may need to perform processes consistent with the disclosed embodiments. For example, storage 2424 may include one or more magnetic and/or optical disk devices, such as hard drives, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, or any other type of mass media device.

Database 2425 may include one or more software and/or hardware components that cooperate to store, organize, sort, filter, and/or arrange data used by controller 2420 and/or processor 2421. For example, database 2425 may store hardware and/or software configuration data associated with input-output hardware devices and controllers, as described herein. It is contemplated that database 2425 may store additional and/or different information than that listed above.

I/O devices 2426 may include one or more components configured to communicate information with a user associated with controller 2420. For example, I/O devices may include a console with an integrated keyboard and mouse to allow a user to maintain a database of images, update associations, and access digital content. I/O devices 2426 may also include a display including a graphical user interface (GUI) for outputting information on a monitor. I/O devices 2426 may also include peripheral devices such as, for example, a printer for printing information associated with controller 2420, a user-accessible disk drive (e.g., a USB port, a floppy, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM drive, etc.) to allow a user to input data stored on a portable media device, a microphone, a speaker system, or any other suitable type of interface device.

Interface 2427 may include one or more components configured to transmit and receive data via a communication network, such as the Internet, a local area network, a workstation peer-to-peer network, a direct link network, a wireless network, or any other suitable communication platform. For example, interface 2427 may include one or more modulators, demodulators, multiplexers, demultiplexers, network communication devices, wireless devices, antennas, modems, and any other type of device configured to enable data communication via a communication network.

While the methods and systems have been described in connection with preferred embodiments and specific examples, it is not intended that the scope be limited to the particular embodiments set forth, as the embodiments herein are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is no way intended that an order be inferred, in any respect. This holds for any possible non-express basis for interpretation, including: matters of logic with respect to arrangement of steps or operational flow; plain meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation; the number or type of embodiments described in the specification. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An ophthalmic apparatus comprising a multi-zonal lens body having a plurality of optical zones, wherein the multi-zonal lens body forms an angularly-varying phase member having a center at a first meridian, the angularly-varying phase member, at the center of the first meridian, comprising a refractive structure to direct light to a first point of focus, wherein at angular positions nearby to the first meridian, the refractive structure directs light to points of focus nearby to the first point of focus such that rotational offsets of the multi-zonal lens body from the center of the first meridian directs light from the nearby points of focus to the first point of focus, thereby establishing a band of operational meridian for the apparatus to an intended correction meridian.
 2. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the refractive structure has a height profile at a face of the ophthalmic apparatus that angularly varies along each meridian nearby to the center of the first meridian.
 3. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the height profile of the refractive structure angularly varies in a continuous gradual manner.
 4. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the refractive structure angularly varies along each meridian nearby to the center of the first meridian up to a pre-defined angular position of the apparatus.
 5. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 4, wherein pre-defined angular position is at least about 5 degrees from the center of the first meridian.
 6. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the refractive structure varies along each meridian between the first meridian and a third meridian that is about 45 degrees offset to the first meridian and between the first meridian and a fourth meridian that is about −45 degrees offset to the first meridian.
 7. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multi-zonal lens body comprises at least three optical zones, the at least three optical zones forming an angularly varying efficiency trifocal optics.
 8. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multi-zonal lens body comprises at least four optical zones, the at least four optical zones forming an angularly varying efficiency quadric optics.
 9. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multi-zonal lens body forms a second angularly-varying phase member at a second meridian, wherein the second meridian is orthogonal to the first meridian.
 10. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first angularly-varying phase member and the second angularly-varying phase member, collectively, form an angularly varying efficiency bifocal optics.
 11. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second angularly-varying phase member has a center at the second meridian, the second angularly-varying phase member varying along each meridian nearby to the center of the second meridian i) between the second meridian and a third meridian that is about 45 degrees offset to the second meridian and ii) between the second meridian and a fourth meridian that is about −45 degrees offset to the second meridian.
 12. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 7, wherein the refractive structure of the first and second angularly-varying phase members each forms a butterfly pattern.
 13. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the refractive structure of the first and second angularly-varying phase members, collectively, forms a butterfly pattern that is expressed as ${{r(\theta)} = \sqrt{2 \cdot n \cdot \frac{{s(\theta)} \cdot \lambda}{A(\theta)}}},$ where r(θ) is the contour radius for the given meridian added power A(θ), wavelength λ, zone number n, and the scaling value s(θ), all at meridian θ.
 14. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the angularly-varying phase member at the first meridian comprises a monofocal lens.
 15. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second angularly-varying phase member at the second meridian comprises a second monofocal lens.
 16. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of i) the third meridian located about 45 degrees from first meridian and ii) the fourth meridian located about −45 degrees from the first meridian, collectively, form a bifocal lens.
 17. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 2, wherein the height profile T1(r, θ) for each meridian θ is defined as: T1(r, θ)=t ₁(r)|COS²(θ)|+t ₂(r)|SIN²(θ)| where t₁(r) and t₂(r) are the add power for each zone.
 18. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first angularly-varying phase member establishes the band of operational meridian across a range selected from the group consisting of about ±4 degrees, about ±5 degrees, about ±6 degrees, about ±7 degrees, about ±8 degrees, about ±9 degrees, about ±10 degrees, about ±11 degrees, about ±12 degrees, about ±13, degrees, about ±14 degrees, and about ±15 degrees.
 19. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, comprising: a plurality of alignment markings, including a first set of alignment markings and a second set of alignment markings, wherein the first set of alignment markings corresponds to the center of the first meridian, and wherein the second set of alignment markings corresponds to the band of operational meridian.
 20. A rotationally-tolerant ophthalmic apparatus for correcting astigmatism, the ophthalmic apparatus comprising: a multi-zonal lens body having a plurality of optical zones configured to apply cylinder power at an astigmatism meridian of an eye, the multi-zonal lens body forming an angularly-varying phase member having a peak cylinder power centered at an astigmatism correcting meridian, the angularly-varying phase member, at the astigmatism correcting meridian, having a refractive structure configured to direct light to a first point of focus on the retina, and wherein the refractive structure of the angularly-varying phase member varies, at each optical zone, along meridians nearby to the astigmatism correcting meridian, to direct light to points of focus nearby to the first point of focus such the refractive structure, when rotationally offset from the peak cylinder power, directs light from the nearby points of focus to the first point of focus, thereby establishing a band of operational meridians over the astigmatism meridian.
 21. A rotationally-tolerant ophthalmic apparatus for correcting astigmatism, the ophthalmic apparatus comprising: an astigmatism correcting meridian corresponding to a peak cylinder power associated with a correction of an astigmatism, the ophthalmic apparatus having a plurality of exterior alignment markings, including a first set of alignment markings and a second set of alignment markings, wherein the first set of alignment markings corresponds to the astigmatism correcting meridian, and wherein the second set of alignment markings corresponds to an operational band of the rotationally-tolerant ophthalmic apparatus. 